Bonus win for Zedfire Express

Zedfire Express collected $38,000 and a Westspeed bonus for what was effectively a barrier trial at Belmont on Saturday.

The Danehill Express filly was a cosy winner when racing first-up in the Westspeed 3yo Hcp (1000m).  “She doesn’t know how to run a bad race,” trainer Jason Miller said.  “I was a bit wary sending her around without a trial so I thought we may as well use this race as a trial.

“It worked out perfectly and the money is a lot better.”

Zedfire Express (3f Danehill Express – Zedfire by Zedrich) has won 3 times in 5 starts for a syndicate headed by Max, Noel and Glenn Cowcher.  She followed speedy filly You Will Be Queen and cruised past to leader for a two length victory on Saturday.

“It was a good learning curve today,” Miller continued.  “She likes to lead but the other filly crossed and she settled okay.  That proved she can sit and then run on.  We will keep targeting Westspeed races until she’s ready to go out again.”

Mungrup Stud resident Danehill Express sired four winners in as many days last week.  About Time scored first-up at Strathalbyn on Wednesday and Shalo broke through second-up at Bunbury on Thursday.

And after the Belmont result, Anywhere Express made three wins from his last four starts in Kalgoorlie on Saturday afternoon.

Zedfire Express is the third winner from Zedfire following Fiery Fox (Stormy’s Son) and Zedspiel (Danehill Express).  The mare won 7 races for Lex and Shirley Piper and she is a sister to Flemington stakes winner Penny Banger.

Zedspiel has won three races for Ascot trainer Paul Jordan and he bought an Oratorio – Zedfire filly for $40,000 at the Perth Magic Millions in February.

Danehill Express is in the Top 10 on the Australian third-season premiership with earnings of $1.44 million.  And with just three crops racing, only champion sires Blackfriars and Oratorio (Aus) are above him on the Western Australian table.